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Letter: Stand Up for Science: Protect scientific progress and Utah’s future. See you Friday at the Capitol.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters gather on the steps of the Utah Capitol during a President's Day protest in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025.

In Utah, we cherish a unique way of life. Often overlooked, is that our lifestyle relies heavily on scientific advances: medical tests and treatments, air quality monitoring, and snowmaking at ski resorts are a few examples of innovations driven by research at Utah universities and industries. Now, scientific progress — a driver of innovative solutions and our state’s economy — is under threat.

We will Stand Up for Science on Friday, March 7, at the Utah Capitol south steps to voice our belief that science is for everyone. With rallies nationwide, Stand Up for Science is calling on all Utahns to uphold the integrity of science and ensure its benefits reach all people.

Currently, science is facing challenges that could have substantial repercussions for our state and nation. Tens of thousands of federal employees that provide critical health and scientific data have been laid off. New grant applications to fund solutions for society’s pressing issues remain unread and the status of already approved grants is uncertain. A proposal to limit funding for biomedical research could slow the pace of life-saving treatments.

If such actions continue, Utah could suffer economic and job losses, wrecked STEM opportunities for our children, and fewer medical advances.

For over 20 years, Utah has invested in a STEM economy that is now the envy of the region. Our tech and life sciences industries employ more than 100,000 people and contribute billions in tax revenue. Curtailing science will cripple the talent pipeline and foundational knowledge that fuels the industry engine.

Most immediately, Utah’s research universities and institutions are feeling the impacts. These experts address unmet needs and form a foundation for innovation and societal progress. Now, the recent challenges are distracting them from these worthwhile goals.

On Friday, we march for science and for Utah’s future. Join us.

Nathan Burns, PhD; Amy Hawkins, PhD; Gabrielle Kardon, PhD; Julie Kiefer, PhD; Anne Kirchhoff, PhD; Justice Morath, MA; Gillian Stanfield, PhD. (Utah Stand Up for Science Committee). All authors are speaking on their own behalf and not on behalf of their employers.

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By Nathan Burns, Amy Hawkins, Gabrielle Kardon, Julie Kiefer, Anne Kirchhoff, Justice Morath and Gillian Stanfield | The Public Forum